The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-10-30
The Story of Its Mysterious
Disappearance
AND SUBSEQUENT RECOVERY,
at a Cost of $4,000 the Relatives
Secured the Return OF the Re-
mains-They Are Now Safe
A. t. Stewards Body.

which has so long enveloped the fate Of
the body of the millionaire dry goods
dealer, Alexander T. Stewart, forms the
subject of chapter in Superintendent
Walling's book, which is soon to be
published. The ex superintendent
processes to give the only true
story of the stealing of the body,
and also alleges that the body
was subsequently returned to
a representative of Judge Hilton. The
remains were buried in st. Marks
church yard, corner of Second Avenue
and Tenth Street, in an underground
vault, the entrance to which was
covered by flag stone, which, in turn,
was sodded over, level with the sur
rounding surface, so there was nc out
ward evidence of its location.
After the theft of the body, the FIRST
clue came from General Patrick Fl.
Jones, ex-postmaster.' of New York, who
notified Walling that an ex-soldier who
had served under him. claimed to
know something about Stewards
body, and with proper encouragement
would give information leading to irs
recovery. THE lperintendent sub
declared that he would never pay one
cent for Mr. Stewards bones, unless
they came accompanied by the thieves
in irons. General Jones, a few days
later, gave the police a package ex
pressed to him from Boston, contain
ing the coffin plate, which was identi- :
fed by the engraver who had done the
work. To complete their Identification
the robbers sent piece of paper ist
fitted exactly the hole in the velvet
cover of the coffin, cut out by the thieI es-
when the body was removed. Judge
Hilton remained unalterable, and the
case was dropped by the authorities. In
January, 1882, General Jones called at
headquarters. He brought with him a
parcel which contained the silver
knobs and several of the andes be-
longing to the coffin in which the body
had been buried. He also shovel some
letters, which he receiv d. They pur
ported to have been written in canada
and were signed by Henry G.
Romaine." One letter, which contained
the piece of paper, promised that if
further proof was required to send the
coffin plate upon the insertion of certain.
personals in the New York Herald. This
was done. Under date of Boston,
January 81, 1879, letter came, saying
the plate was sent from there to avoid
the scrutiny of the custom officials on
the Canadian border. The plate was
received and identified. General Jones
was instructed in case the relatives
were ready to negotiate Cor the remains
to insert this personal in the Herald (
Canada will do. business. Counsel.
This was done at Judge Hilton's re-
quest. The reply which came from
Boston on the 18th of February, set
forth the terms upon which the body
would be restored. They were as toll
lows: First, the amount to be paid
shall be $500 900. Second, the body will
be delivered to yourself and Judge
Hilton, within twenty miles of the city
of Montreal, and no other persons shall
be present. Third, the money to be
placed in your hands, or
Under ndse H youF is o0 fnI1 sats gnt5l
when you will deliver it to my repre-
maintain, forever, an unbroken silence
in regard to the transaction. Judge
Hilton refused to agree to the terms
proposed and further declined to nego-i
tate through the medium of a personal.
Romano soon ordered Mr.. Jones
to break off all communications
with Judge Hilton and open
negotiations with Mrs. Stewart. No
notice was taken of this request, but in
March, Judge Hilton made an offer of
$25 900 for the body.
General Jones made the fact known
to Romano, who respectfully, butt
firmly, declined. This closed the cor
The robbers becoming
discouraged, now offered to sell
the body for 100000. Mrs. Stew
art was willing, and ordered
her representatives to pay the amount.
They delayed matters until the figure
was reduced to $40, 900, which was &C
cepted. The conditions of the delivery
were severe. A messenger with the
money was to leave New York city at
10 p. M, alone, in a one-horse wagon,
and drive into Westchester County,
along a lonely road, which was inoi-
Gated on a map sent by the thieves.
Some time before morning, if the man
was acting in good faith and was not
or followed by detectives,
he would be met and given further di-
rections. A young relative of Mrs.
Stewards undertook the hazardous task
and was met by the thieves, and after
the money was delivered and certain
formalities carried out, the body was
delivered to him the next night.
The body was conveyed to the
An empty coffin had
been already deposited in the cathedral
at the dead of night. Two men trans
ferred the body to it from the trunk.
Then they placed the coffin in an in
accessible vault beneath the dome. If
anv ono shOuId AGAIN t0uch unhiddo1
the vault which holds the bones of the
millionaire, the touch would
release the hidden spring, which would
shake the chimes in the tower and send
an instant alarm throughout the town.